Pogba a long-term absentee – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho compared Paul Pogba’s injury lay-off to that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after confirming the France international is now a “long-term” absentee for Manchester United.

Pogba has not featured for United since their 3-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League on September 12, hobbling off after 19 minutes at Old Trafford with a hamstring problem.

Updates on his condition have been scarce but Mourinho confirmed on Friday that his star midfielder is not expected back any time soon.

“He’s injured, he cannot play tomorrow,” Mourinho told a media conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

“His injury is not one that I can have the hope like I can have with [Antonio] Valencia or [Phil] Jones. 

“With them, I have the hope to see them training and to have a positive answer [on their availability].

“But with long-term injuries, I don’t speak about them, so Ibra, Pogba, [Marcos] Rojo and these players, I don’t think about them.”

“Long-term injuries – Ibra, Pogba, Rojo and these players – I don’t speak about them,” says Mourinho. #MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 29, 2017

United will be without Jones for the visit of Palace, while Michael Carrick is also unlikely to feature as the pair battle to regain fitness.

“They are out,” added Mourinho. “They were out [on Wednesday] and tomorrow some [players] will be out [too].

“What I’m saying is that, from all the injuries we had, I hope that I can have some players available for tomorrow.”